Last Thursday many companies and individuals protested the current SOPA and PIPA legislation by signing petitions, temporarily shutting down websites, and calling their local representatives.
Third year civil engineering student Natalie Holsomback did not know about the legislation until Wednesday, but said she soon found out what all the debate was about.
“I watched a video someone made on YouTube about it and now I think that it’s got the right idea, but it’s poorly written and they’re going about it the wrong way,” Holsomback said.
After she learned what was going on she discovered that one of her frequented websites, Wikipedia, was not available because of the protest. Holsomback signed the petition Google had available after becoming informed.
First year computer science major Heather French found the government’s proposal restrictive and intrusive.
“The Internet is supposed to be a way to connect with people and things around the world,” French said. “So many people depend on the freedom the Internet allows through all of its resources, and it seems that the legislation is going to greatly infringe on that by shutting down any sites that seem to be allowing illegal downloads or unauthorized use of work belonging to someone else.”
French gave YouTube cover artists as an example, by saying that this legislation would mean that amateur artists would not be able to share their music, and the host websites for such outlets might shut down if proper regulation is not taken.
Since the protest took place and legislators were contacted the number in agreement with the proposal has gone down.
“I think it was smart because it raises awareness,” Holsomback said. “They’re trying to protect themselves by trying to reach as many people as possible and let them know what the bill could possibly do.”
While many, like Holsomback, feel regulations should exist to prevent such acts of piracy, they don’t all feel the government should be the one to regulate it.
“I think the government should leave it up to individual agencies to handle the situation within their companies as they see fit without infringing on rights,” French said. “Punishments by the government for individuals that break the law, which is already done, is best. There are obviously flaws in all of the different things government could do, but I think overall leaving it up to the people who own the content being pirated is the best option.”